The Supreme Court has set July 17, 2024, to rule on Dr Amanda Odoi’s application for interlocutory injunction against the transmission of the anti-gay bill to the presidency by Parliament.
According to the apex court, another application filed by media personality and lawyer, Richard Dela Sky will also be addressed on the same day.
The announcement follows arguments from the plaintiffs’ lawyers, the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, and Thaddeus Sory who is the counsel for the Speaker of Parliament.
Delivering the closing remarks after today’s hearing, the 5-member panel, chaired by Chief Justice, Getrude Torkornoo stressed that the court will not undertake a composite ruling.
According to the Chief Justice, the apex court will give different rulings in the two cases.
The panel comprised Justice Mariama Owusu, Justice Prof Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Justice Ernest Gaewu, and Justice Yaw Darko Asare.
Background
Currently, there are two lawsuits before the Supreme Court challenging the passage of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill passed by Parliament.
In his suit, Richard Dela Sky is challenging the constitutionality of Parliament in passing the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.”
The Plaintiff, who is seeking the apex court to declare the bill null and void, also argues that the passage of the bill violates provisions of the 1992 Constitution particularly Article 33(5) as well as Articles 12(1) and (2), 15(1), 17(1) and (2), 18(2), and 21(1) (a) (b) (d) and (e).
Mr Sky is seeking eight reliefs including an order that “the Speaker of Parliament contravened Article 108(a)(ii) of the Constitution, in light of Article 296(a)(b) and (c), by admitting and allowing Parliament to proceed upon and pass ‘The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024’ into law as the same imposes a charge upon the Consolidated Fund or other public funds of Ghana.”
On her part, Dr Odoi has raised concerns about specific provisions within the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
She is also seeking a restraining order to prevent the Speaker, the Attorney General, and the Clerk of Parliament from sending the bill to President Akufo-Addo for his approval.
